The Devil's Curse.

Chapter 22 | The photo to unlock the key.

UPDATE, UPDATE, UPDATE! 

Sorry it took so long but here ya go! I send my love to my amazing readers! And lemme take a moment to do a dedication: 

DEDICATION: @kayla10185 thank you so much for not only reading one of my books but basically all of them! You're absolutely amazing!

And enjoy the UPDATE! 

Chapter 22 | The photo to unlock the key.

"This is pointless!" I groaned throwing my hands up.

Savannah was silent as she placed another cookie onto my little plate. I merely glared at her, I swear this woman was trying to make me fat. Even the chai tea she gave me had heaps of sugar and milk in it.

"Honestly, he thinks it's so easy cause he's an angel," I grumbled biting into the cookie viciously.

"Um, Cloud, you're also an angel technically," she informed me.

I merely responded like any mature being would – by sticking my tongue out. She responded by flipping me off, before we both started chuckling. It was nice having these peaceful days, it seemed the kitchen was growing on me. Of course it was only me it was going on, ever since Savannah got here she spent her days in the kitchen baking. That made the environment too terrifying for anyone else to enter.

A knock on the kitchen door had us both looking up. Then the door opened and Sora walked through talking to Lithan and –

"Digget?" I gasped happily pushing myself up.

"Miss Cloud!" Digget cried running his chubby little feet over to me.

I instantly pulled the boy into a hug, then noticing the pout on Lithan's face I giggled and hugged him too. The blush on Lithan's face didn't go unnoticed.

"Digget would like a cookie too, Digget traveled all day to see Miss. Cloud," Digget sniffled reaching into his little pouch and pulling out an envelope. I looked at him curiously as he handed it to me before waddling over to the table with Lithan to stuff their faces.

"Whoa easy," Sora gasped amused.

"Hey slow down! Drink some milk too or you'll make your tummy hurt," Savannah scrambled to shove glasses of milk at them. I smiled, maybe it was the overwhelming stank of chocolate chip cookies or maybe it was the warmth in the air but I could tell these two would be awesome parents.

"I'll be back, I'm going to go talk to Lucas," I called to them.

"Ooh girl you go get it, if you don't come back doubly pregnant I'm gonna be pissed," Savannah whistled making my face burn.

"Dear god, I hope you know that's not how it works," Sora sighed behind me.

I fled the room immediately escaping the warmth and into the hall which now smelt for roses. Funny enough, I couldn't decide which scent I preferred, so I decided I'd pick them both as my favourite.

Reaching Lucas's office I knocked softly. The large door swung open and my lovely husband stood in the doorway. I smirked.

"What?" he grumbled in a prissy mood today.

"I just it's cute you knew I was coming so you opened the door for as soon as I got here," I replied poking him in the stomach.

He swatted my hand away like an angry mama bear before rolling his eyes. I stepped past him into his office and noticed the relaxing smell of my dear husband. I took a seat at his desk and twirled around in his chair.

"Really? You do realize I was working on council stuff," his sighing seemed to be constant and non-hesitant.

"So? I'm working on this important thing called life. It's much more fun and exciting," I snapped back.

"Ok, I'm intrigued what's wrong?" again another sigh.

"Abaddon! He's so unfair! He won't train me until I learn how to quote, unquote stop fighting with my anger. Like I'm so sorry you're a privileged angel!" I snapped.

"Careful my angel, you're one step away from protesting for Halfling rights in hell," he snickered.

My eye twitched and I chuckled the first thing I grabbed at him – which just happened to be his book full of hell's finances. It hit him in the head before he fell back onto the couch.

"Well, I guess the burden of debt is very crippling," I laughed.

"Hell is not in debt!"

Well, I'm glad my joke went right over his head. I chose to ignore him and turn my attention to the envelope Digget had given me. The seal on the back was in the shape of a surprisingly cute ghost holding a potion bottle.

"What's that?" he asked sitting up to watch me lazily with sharp eyes.

"Mind your own business," I snapped.

"Then don't hide shit from me," he replied annoyed.

"You're right, sorry. It's a letter given to me from Digget," I explained.

"Digget – beady eyes, black wings? Kinda looks like an ugly bird baby?" he asked curiously.

"Shut up he's cute!"

"Good lord, you think the ugliest things are cute."

"Loser, I think you're cute."

"No darling, you think I'm fucking divine – that's the difference."

My face felt like a full on forest fire at this point and I looked away quickly. Instead I looked at his desk, where I now saw a little photo of something tucked into a piece of the wood itself.

"What's this?" I asked.

I've never seen a demon move so fast in my life.

"It's nothing!" He cried.

Fortunately I was much closer and so I easily picked up the photo and held it away from him to peer at it. The photo brought tears to my eyes as I never smiled so hard in my damn life. In the picture I wore a sparkling dark blue dress which had been ripped. I was shoeless while my hair was done elegantly. I stood across from Lucas who wore a fancy suit and tie.

We stood in front of each other, you could see me trying to stand as tall as Lucas but failed considering how short I was, he towered over me. A stand of power no doubt. It was, the day we had first met.

"I didn't want you knowing I had it, I wanted to remember the day when fate tied us together but I knew that day you lost everything so I didn't want you to be upset," he murmured.

I looked at him filled with love and protectiveness. I wanted to shelter this man and let him keep all the happy moments close to him. My body grew warm and I leaned forward to kiss him.

"Wait," he stopped me and I narrowed my eyes, "look."

I turned to look where he nodded – my fingers which held the photo were glowing gold and tiny flecks of gold drifted around us like ash. Glory.

You're a fool, if you believe anger is the key to power.

He was right. Damn angel, I finally understood. It wasn't anger, it was the will to protect. The key to unlocking my glory was my driven love.

"They keep bringing up mommy and daddy and I don't understand why," Daniel sniffled.

I looked at my brother with clenched fists, the urge to beat those boys who hurt him was strong. But I knew that wouldn't solve anything. If anything, it would lead to Daniel being even more hurt in the future.

Instead, I had to leave my brother to do this on his own. So, I did the only thing I could. I hugged him close – if I could protect anything I'd protect his heart and give him all the strength I had. Then, I hoped he would use it to one day protect himself.